Luminous tube sign



Filed March 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR XOK4ZA.VI5SIN6.

ATTORNEY J4me 30, 1936.

R. A. VISSING LUMINOUS TUBE SIGN , 1935 2 Sheets-Sheeb 2 Filed March 20 Illlllllllllllllll INVENTOR ROYHL/LV/JSl/VG Vz ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUMINOUS TUBE SIGN Royal A. Vissing, Magna, Utah, assignor to Neosign Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to luminous tube signs usually called neon signs, and particularly to signs of this character which are readily changeable to exhibit a wide variety of advertising matter; and among other objects the invention aims to provide improvements over the sign construction disclosed in the application of E. D. Vissing, Serial No. 667,728, allowed September '7, 1934, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

More specific objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and showing said preferred in dot and dash lines two alternative positions of the sign panel;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same on a smaller scale;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the sign panel, tubing and sponge rubber holders;

and

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2, but on a slightly larger scale.

While the luminous tube sign disclosed in the E. D. Vissing application has proved in practice to be eminently practical and useful, certain disadvantages are inherent in its construction, among them being a constant singing or buzzing noise, which, it has been discovered, is due to leakage of a portion of the electric current through the metallic reflector and thence to the casing or frame. Another drawback is that when preparing an advertisement by means of the erasable quickdrying paint, which is preferably used on the sign, the worker may be forced to operate in an uncomfortable or unnatural position, thus making good workmanship very diificult, especially when working on the lower portion of the sign panel. Another drawback in an unnecessary complexity in the means for mounting the reflector and the grid of tubing. Furthermore, the sign is less stable and less easily handled than is desirable in a portable unit of this character.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, the improved sign comprises a stand or base I 0, a transformer (not shown) in a casing I I mounted on said base in a manner to be described, the sign casing 13, a grid [4 of neon or similar luminous tubing and a sign panel l5, which is preferably of clear glass to permit an advertisement to be formed thereon from a coating of an erasable quick-drying paint or lacquer Hi. If desired, the sign-forming coating I6 may be replaced by a stencil or the like and the transparent panel i5 may be dispensed with.

As will be understood from the drawings, the stand or base comprises a pair of parallel flat metal straps H to which the transformer casing it is rigidly secured, as by screws, or rivets (not shown). The transformer casing II has an opening in the rear wall thereof through which a conductor H3 passes to make a connection with a standard electrical socket, not shown. From the opposite wall of the transformer casing a conductor 29, which passes through a porcelain or other tubular insulator 20, extends to the electrodes 2i of the grid M, as shown in Fig. 5. Secured to the outer ends of the metal strap H, as by rivets (not shown) is an upright generally U-shaped frame 22, which is also preferably of fiat strap metal. The upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped frame '22 are perforated to permit screws 23 to pass through them, said screws having their heads within the casing l3 and entering knurled screw knobs 24 which with washers 25 are adapted to fix the angular position of the casing l3 relative to the U-shaped frame 22.

The casing l3 comprises a frame which may be of plywood or micarta, preferably with four triangular wooden blocks 26 at each of the corners on the inside thereof, each wooden block 26 being perforated to receive one of the screws 2'! by which the back lSa of the casing may be held. The wooden corner blocks 26 also strengthen the casing, as will be understood. Preferably the front of the casing consists of closely fitting bevelled parts similar to the parts of a picture frame, as shown in Fig. l, and the glass panel l5 is held closely against the front portions of the casing while a sealing compound such as a black non-hardening putty (not shown) is inserted between the inside face of the casing and the adjacent surface of the glass 15 so as completely to seal the interior of the sign, thus preventing any dust from finding its way into the sign interior.

The grid I 4 is preferably placed in contact with the glass panel l3 to conserve space, although these parts may be separated if desired. The reflector 28 is generally similar to the reflector disclosed in the aforesaid E. D. Vissing application, but at the bottom of each of the grooves the reflector is split, to provide a series of air gaps 2811 (Fig. 4) which provide effective insulators for breaking up any stray leakage currents tending to discharge through the reflector. It has been found that said air gaps will completely by a pair of screw eyes having the dualfunction eliminate all noise of discharge of leakage currents and it is believed that by the provision of these air gaps not only the noise of discharge but the leakage currents themselves are practically completely obviated.

Directly back of the reflector 28 are at least two sponge rubber supports 29 (Figs. 2 and 5) which also provide cushions to hold the reflector properly relative to the tubing. The sponge rubber supports 29 are held by braces 30 preferably of wood or the like, said braces having arms 30a at each end adapted to contact with the glass panel IE to hold the same rigidly against the casing l3. A pair of screws 3| at both the top and the bottom provide means to secure the braces 30 rigidly within thecasing l3, and also to assist in holding the sponge rubber supports 29 with the proper pressure against the reflector 28. The braces 36 may also have screw holes 32 for screws (not shown) which assistin holding the back l3a rigidly onto the casing. The upper screws 3! may also be used to secure a pair of hooks or if desired, said screws may be replaced of assisting'in holding the braces 35 in position and with their eyes providing means by which improved sign has the following advantages,

among others: a V i a (1) It is very stable, and may be picked up and handled by the transformer casing;

(2) Its sign panel may be moved into a horizontal position, where it will be supported rigidly 'by the transformer casing, thus greatly facili- ,sulated;

(4) Its stand may be placed on polished surfaces, without scratching or marring them, and

may be slid about on flat surfaces; furthermore,

said stand is of a minimum number of parts, promoting economy in manufacture, saving weight, and in cooperation with the transformer, eliminating tipping over; 7 e

(5) As explained above, noisy discharge through the reflector is obviated. 1

Obviously the present invention may be embodied in other forms, and equivalent elements may be substituted for those disclosed herein. For example, instead of the air gaps 28a, di-

electric solids may be used, although the cost would be increased by such a change.

Having described my invention, what I claim, as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: I

the lengths of the tubing; each of said grooves I being open at the bottom to provide an insulating air gap. p

2 A luminous tubesign comprising, in combination, a sign panel; neon tubing arranged in parallel lengths adjacent said sign panel; and

a'metallic reflector back .of said tubing and 4 having grooves for receiving the lengths of the tubing; each of said grooves'being' open directly back of the tubing lengths to provide an insulating air gap. r

3. A luminous tube sign comprising, in combination, a sign panel; a series of tube lengths;

grooved reflector, the grooves of which individually receive and contact with the tube iengths; and insulating means breaking up the reflector into a series of insulated reflector elements, thereby eliminating the noise of ieakag'e currents tending to discharge through said reflector.

4. A luminous tube sign comprising, in combination, a sign panel; a series of tube lengths; a

grooved reflector receiving said tube lengths; a strip of soft insulating materiai supporting the reflector and holding it against the tube lengths; a support for the soft insulating material; and a casing to'which said support and sign panel are secured.

ROYAL A. VISSING; 

